Apparatus for making multi-ply paper bags

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for the manufacture of multi-ply paper bags having means for advancing bag blanks one after the other along a path, means along the path for heating the bottom end of the blank to soften the thermoplastic coating, means for applying a sealing force to the softened thermoplastic coating, means for holding the seal while the thermoplastic coating cools and hardens, means for embossing the bag blank along a fold line for folding the bag blank end along the fold line and for folding the folded portion into the side wall of the blank and means for applying, coating and adhesively securing a tape to the folded portion and the side wall of the blank.

United States Patent Baxter et al. [451 May 23, 1972 APPARATUS FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY Relerenoes Cited PAPER B AGS UNITED STATES PATENTS 72 Inventors; Robert M u w Carlton 2,169,936 8/1939 Wagner ..229/55 Evam all f Camden, Ark. 3,470,796 10/1969 Loxey ..93/8 R [73] Assignee: International Paper Company, New York, Pn-mwy Mner Bcmard Stickney Attorney-Charles B. Smith [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1970 7 ABSTRACT [2l] Appl. No.: 77,416 [5 1 Apparatus for the manufacture of multi-ply paper bags having Related Application Dita means for advancing bag blanks one after the other along a {62] Division of Ser. No. 818,909, Apr. 24, 1969, Pat. No. Path, means along the P for b the bomm end of 3 567,1 1 L blank to soften the thermoplastic coating, means for applying a a sealing force to the softened thermoplastic coating, means [52] US. Cl. ..93/8 R, 156/443, 156/521, for holding the seal Whil h he mopl stic coating cools and 156/566 hardens, means for embossing the bag blank along a fold line [51] Int. Cl ..B3lb l/ for folding the bag blank end along the fold line and for fold- [58] Field of Search ..93/8 R, 35 R; 229/57; 156/545, ing the folded portion into the side wall of the blank and 156/443, 521, 566 means for applying, coating and adhesively securing a tape to the folded portion and the side wall of the blank.

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Patented May 23, 1972 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 APPARATUS FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY PAPER BAGS The present application is a division of application Ser. No. 818,909 filed Apr. 24, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,111. The present invention relates to apparatus for making multiply paper bags.

The use of paper bags for the disposal of garbage, trash, rubbish and refuse from homes, hospitals, institutions, and the like, has many advantages. In many areas, local health and sanitation ordinances require that garbage and trash be wrapped. Such wrapping, among other things eliminates soiled cans, the banging and hammering of the cans, easier handling of the garbage and rubbish, and has a number of otheradvantages. Mere wrapping of the garbage and rubbish does not, however, in all instances attain such advantages because, if the wrapping opens up or fails before the garbage and trash is collected and disposed, these advantages are not always attained. Thus, in some areas, particularly in hospitals and institutions disposable, waterproof containers are specified for garbage, trash and waste. In addition to being waterproof, such containers must also have certain strengths so that, when filled, the container will not rip, open up or fail and spill its contents and so that, when filled, the container might be handled, such as in the handling required in picking up and disposing of the filled container in an incinerator, or the like. I

Various attempts have, heretofore, being made to provide an acceptable container for garbage, trash and the like. Such containers have included an inner paper ply coated on the inner surface so that the inner surface is waterproof and an outer ply treated with a material to render the outer surface repellant to atmospheric moisture, such as rain, snow and the like. One of the difficulties heretofore encountered in the making of such containers has been to provide an enclosure which is waterproof and sufficiently strong to support the weight of the garbage, trash and waste and handling. Some of such bags, in order to attain the necessary strength, have been sewed or stitched. Because such sewing and stitching requires perforation of the various plies and, at such perforations, have exposed the paper to wicking and wetting either from the interior or exterior of the bag, such bags, where the ends are sewn, have not been completely satisfactory. Furthermore, the sewing or stitching of the end closure has added to the cost of the bag.

The instant invention is concerned with an improved paper bag for garbage trash and waste in which the bottom end of the bag is heat sealed, creased and folded and a tape of predetermined length is applied to the end of the bag over the end of the folded portion to reinforce the end closure and prevent wicking or wetting of the bottom through the exposed edges of the plies. In heat sealing the end prior to creasing and folding, the opposite walls of the inner ply are sealed along a line which, when the bag is folded, is along a line extending widthwise of the bag spaced upwardly of the folded portion away from the fold line. Thus, at the fold line, where the bottom of the bag is creased, the inner wall or the inner ply, at the creased line, can expand without rupturing, tearing, or breaking the waterproof coating on the inner surface of the inner ply. This is important because, as has been noted above, wicking or wetting of the bag at the bottom weakens the bag end and results in ripping, tearing and rupturing of the bag bottom which, when it occurs, spills the bags contents.

The instant invention is also concerned with a machine for producing such a bag. In the machine, the end of the bag is heated, softening the thermoplastic coating on the inner wall of the inner ply. After the coating has been softened, the end of the bag is sealed along a line which, after the bag is folded will be between the fold crease and the bag end. The bag, after it is sealed, is creased along a line above the seal-line, away from the end, and the end is folded at the crease the tape is supplied over the fold end and adhesively secured over the fold edge.

The instant invention would be better understood from the following description and appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a 2- ply sheet used in forming the bag ofthc instant invention;

2 into a tube with the end open;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag of the instant invention with the end sealed, creased, folded and the tape applied;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the tab tube of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the bag of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 to 13 are top plan views of the bag at the various stages of formation of the bag end closure;

FIG. 14a, b and c are side elevational views of the machine for making the bag of the instant invention, a portion of the machine being shown, inside elevation in each of the figures;

FIGS. 15a and 15b are top plan views, with sections broken away, of the machine of FIGS. 14a, 1; and 0;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, an enlarged detail, taken at lines 16-16, FIG. 15a;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken at line 17-17, FIG. 16;

. FIG. 18 is an enlarged end view, partly in section, taken a line 18-18, FIG. 14a;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged end view, partly in section, taken at line 19-19, FIG. 14b;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view, taken at line 20-20, FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a view, taken at line 21-21, FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the bag end, taken at line 22-22, FIG. 8;

FIG. 23 is a view, partially broken away and in section taken at line 23-23, FIG. 14c;

FIG. 24 is a side elevational view taken at line 24-24, FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a view taken at line 2525, FIG. 14c;

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view taken at line 26-26, FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged end view, partly in section of the driving roll of FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of the bag taken at line 28-28, FIG. 9;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view taken at line 29-29, FIG. 15b;

FIGS. 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are views taken at lines 30-30, 31-31,32-32, 33-33 and 34-34, respectively, FIG. 29;

FIG. 35 is a view taken at line 35-35, FIG.

FIG. 36 is a cross sectional view of the bag end taken at line 36-36, FIG. 11;

FIG. 37 is an enlarged side elevational view of the tape application taken at line 37-37, FIG. 15b;

FIG. 38 is a view of the tape application rolls and knife taken at line 38-38, FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a view of the tape guide taken at line 39-39, FIG. 37;

FIG. 40 is a cross sectional view of the tape guide taken at line 40-40, FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is an enlarged view, in cross section, of the bag end taken at line 41-41, FIGS. 12; and

FIGS. 42, 43 and 44 are enlarged views, broken away, of the tape applicator rolls, knife and tape brake showing various positions of the tape applicator units at various stages of operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bag of the instant invention includes outer ply sheet 2 and inner ply sheet 4 of approximately the same length and width overlayed, one over the other, with their longitudinal edges staggered so that, when longitudinally folded along lines 6, 8 and 10, and 12, 14 and 16 with longitudinal edges 2, 2" of outer ply sheet 2 and longitudinal edges 4, 4 of inner ply sheet 4 overlapped, the longitudinal seams thus formed and adhesively secured together, as on a conventional tubing machine, are staggered as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The outer surface of outer ply sheet 2 which, when thethe elements, such as rain, snow and the like, the outer surface of outer ply sheet 2 will shed water. The inner surface of inner ply sheet 4 is coated with a thermoplastic film, such as polyethylene, in a conventional manner. In coating the inner surface of inner ply sheet 4, a heavy coating of thermoplastic is not required, so long as the coating bars water from reaching the paper for reasons more apparent hereinafter. Before inner ply sheet 4 is layed over outer ply sheet 2, a water resistant adhesive is applied to the inner surface of outer ply sheet 2 along a discontinuous line of dots 18 about five-eighths inches from the bottom edge of the sheet and block 20 about three-fourths inches from the bottom. In addition, a discontinuous line of dots 22 of water resistant adhesive are applied about 3 inches from the bottom edge of outer ply sheet 2 between fold line and the sheet edge and dots 24 between fold line 16 and the sheet edge. Because such adhesive is water resistant and the opposing faces of sheets 2, 4 are wettable, when the sheets are brought together, the adhesive dots and blocks adhesively secure the sheets together and hold the sheets in alignment for further handling.

Referring to FIGS. 14a, 14b, 14c and a and 15b, the apparatus for producing the closed end bag of the instant invention includes frame 32 on which are mounted a heating section, generally designated 34, a sealing section, generally designated 36, a creasing and folding section, generally designated 38, and a taping section, generally designated 40. Sprockets 42, 44 are keyed to shafts 46, 48 mounted for rotation, in suitable hearings, in supports 50, 52 on frame 32. At the opposite end of heating and sealing sections 34, 36, sprockets 54, 56 are keyed to shafts 58, 60 mounted for rotation, in suitable bearings, in supports 62, 64. Chain 66 passes, in an endless loop, around sprockets 42, 54 and chain 68 passes, in a similar manner around sprockets 44, 56. For reasons more apparent hereinafter, bag supporting table 70, FIGS. 15a and 15b, is supported on frame 32, in alignment with opposing chains 66, 68, and supports the bags as the bag ends are heated, sealed, folded and taped as such bags move from the left to the right of the machine as such machine is viewed in FIGS. 14a, 14b, 14c, 15a and 15b. The end of such bag is gripped between, and the bag is fed by, opposing chains 66, 68 in a manner later described and to assist chains 66, 68 in feeding such bags and to maintain the ends of the bags in alignment in the heating and sealing sections and parallel with each other, such bags are supported on endless chain 72, projecting upward through slot 74 in supporting table 70, chain 72 passing, at one of its ends, around sprocket 76 keyed to shaft 48 and, at its other end, around sprocket 78 keyed to shaft 60.

As best shown in FIGS. 14a, 14b, 16, 17 and 18, heater section 34 includes upper heater, generally designated 80 and lower heater, generally designated 82, mounted on frame 32 by a plurality of supports 84 spaced substantially equidistant along frame 32. With particular reference to FIGS. 16, 17 and 18, upper chain guide 86 having fastened thereto upper heater element stop 88 is mounted on bracket 90 fixed to one end of spring support 92, spring support 92 being fixed, at its opposite end to support 84. Lower chain guide 94 is fixed to bracket 94 having heater element support 96 afiixed thereto is mounted on bracket 98 attached to lower arm 100 of support 84, lower element 100 of support 84 mounting such support on frame 32, Chain guide 94 guiding and supporting chain 68 is rigidly mounted on support element 100 while chain guide 86 of upper chain 66 is spring supported by spring support 92. Thus, the opposing faces of chains 66, 68 are spring urged by leaf spring support 92 toward each other thereby gripping the paper bag positioned therebetween, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 17. Upper heater head 102 having a downwardly projecting heat sink 104 and a heater unit, such as 106 extending axially along heater section 34 is mounted by support 108 on leaf spring 1 10, the end ofleaf spring 110 being fixed to clamp 112 fixed by clamping screw 114 to shaft 116 for reasons more apparent hereinafter. Heat shield 118 mounted on support 108 extends around upper heater head 102. Lower heater head 120 having upwardly extending heat sink 122 and a heater element, such as electrical element 124 extending axially thereof is mounted by support 126 on leaf spring 128 fastened at its opposite end to clamp 130 fixed by clamping screw 132 to shaft 134. Shafts 116 and 134 extend axially along heater section 34 and are rotatably supported on supports 84 by brackets 136.

As best shown in FIG. 18, gear 138 is fixed to shaft 116 and gear 140 mating with gear 138 is fixed to shaft 134. Cylinder 140, FIG. 18, is pivotally mounted on frame 34 and piston rod 142 of cylinder 140 is connected by clevis 144 to arm 146 clamped by clamping screw 148 to shaft 134. Cylinder 140 and piston 142 through arm 146 and mating gears 138, 140 rotate shafts 116, 134 to rotate heater heads 102, 120 from the position shown in full line in FIG. 17 to the position shown in phantom line and vice versa. When in full line position, the ends of springs 110, 128 engage stops 88, 96, respectively, such stops, in cooperation with leaf spring support 92 spacing heat sinks 104, 122 from the opposite sides of the paper bag passing therebetween.

Referring now to FIGS. 14b, 15a, 19, 20, 21 and 22, sealing section 36 includes support 150 fixed to frame 32 and rotatably supporting mating gears 152, 154 and mating gears 156, 158 and idler gear 160 mounted between gears 154, 158. Gears 152, 154, 156, 158 are keyed, respectively, to shafts 162, 164, 166, 168, shafts 164, 168 being rotatably supported, in fixed position on support 150 and shafts 162, 164 being mounted, respectively, in blocks 170, 172 slideably mounted in support 150 and urged downwardly, for reasons more apparent hereinafter, by springs 174, 176. Pressure wheels 178, are mounted on shafts 162, 166, respectively, and sealing wheels 182, 184 are mounted on shafts 164, 166, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 21, sealing wheels 182, 184 are identical each having an inner element 186 fixed to the shaft by set screw 188, outer element 190 fixed to the shaft by set screw 192 and intermediate element 194 having an outer rounded surface 196 projecting outwardly beyond elements 186, 190 and rotatably supported on the shaft by bearings 198, 200. The outer surfaces of elements 186, 190 and knurled for reasons more apparent hereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 14b, 146, 15a, 15b, 23 and 24, endless belts 210, 212 are driven, respectively, at one end, by belt pulleys 214, 216, keyed, respectively, to shafts 58, 60 and at their opposite ends, by belt pulleys, 218, 220, keyed, respectively, to shafts 222, 224. As best shown in FIGS. 23, 24, belts 212, intermediate pulleys 216, 220 is supported on rollers 226 and roller guides 228 and belt 210, intermediate pulleys 214, 228, is urged toward belt 212 by rollers 230 and roller guides 232, mounted on the frame and urged toward belt 212 by spring 234.

Referring to FIGS. 14c, 15b, 25 and 26, upper embossing roll 240, having a knurled or roughened surface 242 and embossing disc 244, having a radius slightly longer than the radius of embossing roll 240, are mounted on shaft 246, rotatably supported at its opposite ends, in supports 248, 250, spring urged by spring 251 downwardly toward spaced rollers 252, 254, having knurled or roughened surfaces, mounted on shaft 256. As best shown in FIG. 27, embossing roll 240 is fixed to shaft 246 by clamp 258 and screw 260. Embossing disc 244 is mounted for rotation on shaft 246 on hearing 262 and is urged by spring 264, FIG. 25, toward embossing roll 240. Thus, the outer end of disc 244 extending beyond roll 240 rotates between rollers 252, 254, for reasons more apparent hereinafter.

Referring, next, to FIGS. 29 to 34, the bag end folder includes a bottom bag wall engaging plate, generally designated 270, having a bottom wall 272, and a side wall 274, sloping upwardly in the direction of bag travel through the machine, and guide 276 curving downwardly toward bottom wall 272 in the direction of bag travel and then parallel with the bottom wall 272. Upper bag wall engaging plate 278 is positioned at the end of guide 276 and extends longitudinally along the path of bag travel from the end of guide 276. Flap engaging plate 280,

sloping downwardly in the direction of bag travel toward bottom wall 272 is mounted at the end of plate 270 and, as will be more apparent hereinafter, received the bag with the end partially folded and, with plate 276, doubles the folded end of the bag onto the bag to form a square, folded closure at the bag end.

Referring to FIGS. 14c and 35, rollers 282, 284, having roughened or knurled surfaces are fixed, respectively, to shafts 286, 288. Roller 282 is urged toward roller 284 by spring 285. Gears 290, 292, keyed to shafts 286, 288, respectively, intermesh and are driven by chain 294 and sprocket 296 keyed to shaft 288. As will be later described and as shown in FIG. 36, after passing between rollers 282, 284, the square, folded closure at the bag end is flat and ready to receive the closure tape.

As shown in FIGS. 14c and 15b, the tape applicator generally designated 40, is mounted at the discharge end of the machine. Referring to FIG. 37, tape applicator 40 includes frame 300 mounted on machine frame 32 and shoes 302, of which there are three, fixed to frame 300. For reasons more apparent hereinafter, shoes 302 have heating means, not shown, for heating the shoes and, in turn, heating the tape, as it is fed over the shoes. Tape guides 304, 306, 308, 310 are fixed, respectively, to plates 312, 314, 316, 318 attached by links 320, 322, 324, 326, to actuator plate 328 mounted for rotation about shaft 330 on frame 300. Referring to FIG. 14c, actuator plate 328 is reciprocated about shaft 300 by piston rod 332 of cylinder 334 connected to plate 328 by arm 336. As shown in FIG. 37, tape guides 304, 306, 308, 310 are retracted and tape 340 is against shoes 302. When actuated by piston rod 332 and cylinder 334, guides 304, 306, 308, 310 are advanced outwardly, away from shaft 330, lifting tape 340 off of heated shoes 302 for reasons more apparent hereinafter.

Guide roll 342 is mounted for rotation on frame 300. Drag brake 346, urged into engagement with tape 340 on guide roll 342 by spring 346, adjustable by locking nuts 348, is mounted in fixed position on frame 300. Knife wheels 350, 352 are fixed to shafts 354, 356 mounted for rotation in frame 300. Intermeshing gears 358, 360, FIG. 14c, keyed to shafts 354, 356, respectively, drive knife wheels 354, 356 in the direction of the arrows, FIG. 37. Knife blade 362 is fixed to knife wheel 352. Knife blade 364, as best shown in FIG. 38, is mounted for reciprocation on knife wheel 350, in knife guide 365, being reciprocated back-and-forth, for purposes more apparent hereinafter, by cylinder 366. As best shown in FIGS. 42, 43 and 44, knife guide 365 extends downwardly beyond the cutting edge of reciprocating knife blade 364 to depress the trailing edge of the bag, while the applied tape is being cut. As best shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, guide 310 has pins 368, spring urged, by spring 370, into engagement with the surface of tape so that, when guides 304, 306, 308, 310 are advanced outwardly, away from shaft 330 to lift tape 340 off of heated shoes 302, the ends of pins 368 engage the tape and hold the ta e.

Ihe tape is applied to the folded end of the bag as the bag advances through tape applicator 40. The bag is fed into position at applicator 40 by rollers 382, 384. The side of tape 340 which, when the tape is applied to the bag, will be in contact with the bag paper is coated with a thermoplastic adhesive and, because of the feed and guide arrangement in applicator 40, the uncoated side of tape 340 engages heated shoes 302. Thus, the thermoplastic coating is heated from the reverse side of tape 340 so that, when applied to the bag, the coating is soft and tacky.

As the leading edge of the bag enters applicator 40, the cut end of the tape, at knife wheels 350, 352, which are rotating, engages the leading end of the bag. As best shown in FIGS. 42 and 43, the flat portion of knife wheels 350 and 352 are in opposed position as knife member 362 and reciprocating knife 364 cuts the end of the tape on the preceding bag. The leading edge of the following bag, advanced and positioned by rollers 382, 384, is in position, so that the circular portion of the periphery of knife wheels 350, 352, after the opposing flat portions of the wheels pass, engage and feed the bag through applicator 40, pressing the heated, thermoplastic coated tape into adhesive engagement with the bag and advances the bag between driven, mating feed rollers 390, 392, FIG. 37, which,

like rollers 382, 384, feed the bag out of tape applicator 40. As the bag is being fed, knife wheels 350, 352 are rotating so that, when the trailing edge of the bag is proper positioned, knife guide 365 on knife wheel 350 depresses the trailing edge. The tape is then cut by reciprocating knife 364. Mating feed rollers 390, 392 are identical to feed rollers 382, 384 and, in addition to feeding the sealed, folded and taped end bag, press the tape into adhesive contact with the bag. The thennoplastic adhesive on the tape is cooled as it passes between rollers 382, 384 to assist in holding the tape to the bag. The bags, as discharged from rollers 382, 384 are complete.

In operation of the apparatus of the instant application, the bag blanks are formed on conventional tubing equipment. The ply sheets, suitably coated, are superimposed, folded, longitudinally seamed and cut into the desired lengths. In superimposing the ply sheets, the water resistant adhesive is applied in the afore described pattern of dots and blocks and the sheets are adhesively secured together.

The adhesive pattern of dots and blocks is, of course, applied at the required locations and distances from the bottom edge of the bag blanks.

The bag blanks are fed, one by one, through the apparatus of the instant invention, from the left to right of FIGS. 140, 14c and 15a, 15b, with the bottom edge of the bag to be heated, sealed, folded and taped at the bottom of the apparatus as shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b. Preferably, in feeding the bags through the apparatus, the bags are spaced with the leading edge of one bag away from the trailing edge of the preceding bag by at least three quarters of an inc As the bags are advanced through the apparatus, upper heater head 102 and lower heater head are in the position shown in FIG. 17 so that, as the end of the bag passes between heat sinks 104, 122, the thermoplastic material on the inner surface of the inner ply is heated to a temperature so that the thermoplastic coating is soft and tacky. The heat required to elevate the temperature of such coating, through the thickness of the plies would, if the bags remained stationary in heater section 34, cause the bags to burn. In order to eliminate such burning should it be necessary to stop the machine with bags in heater section 34, heater heads 102, 120 are mounted for rotation about shafts 116, 134, in the manner hereinbefore described, and, by actuating cylinder and piston 142 heater heads 102, 120 may be moved away from the bag should the apparatus stop or become jammed. Cylinder 140 may be actuated automatically or, manually by the operator.

With the apparatus in operation, heater heads 102, 120 in the position shown in FIG. 17 and the portion of the bags between heat sinks 104, 122 heated, the bags are advanced out of heater section 34 into sealing section 36. In the apparatus, heat sinks 104, 122, in heater section 34, are aligned with pressure wheels 178, and sealing wheels 182, 184 so that the outer rounded surface 196 of the intermediate element 194 on sealing wheels 182, 184 contact and compress the plies in the area where the thermoplastic coating on the inner surface of the inner plies has been heated and softened by heat sinks 104, 122. Thus, the coating on the inner surface of the inner ply is sealed along band a, FIGS. 28, 36, 41.

With the inner ply sealed along band a, the bag then passes between endless belts 210, 212, belts 210, 212 compressing the plies together, holding the heated thermoplastic coating along the inner plies at the band a in contact with each other until the thermoplastic material cools, hardens and the seal formed along the band a hardens or is cured. The bag then passes between rollers 240, 252, 254 where the end of the bag is embossed along the line where the bag is to be folded. As best shown in FIGS. 28 the embossing line, designated b, is spaced from seal a so that, when folded along embossed line b, seal a will be in the folded, flap portion of the bag spaced upwardly, on the flap, from the fold line. After the bag end is embossed along fold line b, the end of the bag passes into folding section 38. The bottom of the bag, between embossed line b and the bag end advances up the sloping portion of side wall 274 of plate 270 folding the flap upwardly and backwardly onto the upper surface of the bag. Plate 278 folds the bag, along embossed line 12, against side wall 274 so that, when folded over into its final position by flap engaging plate 280, the flap is of uniform height across the width of the bag and the bag end is square. The bag end, with the inner ply sealed and the end folded, then moves into rollers 282, 284 which compress the flap and feed the bag to tape applicator 40 so that the leading edge of the bag is in position to engage the cut end of the tape in applicator 40 and to be engaged by knife wheels 250, 252 as the wheels rotate.

The tape is applied to the end of the bag as hereinabove described and, when discharged from the end of the apparatus by feed rollers 390, 392, tape 340 is applied and adhesively secured to the flap end of the bag as best shown in FIG. 41. While the machine is run, bags are being fed through the machine and tape is being applied, tape guides 304, 306, 308 and 310 are in the position shown in FIG. 37. If, during the operation of the machine, feed of the bags is stopped, tape guides 304, 306, 308, 310 are actuated outwardly away from shaft 330 to avoid overheating of tape 340 and over-softening of the thermoplastic adhesive thereon.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for heating, sealing, folding and taping a multiply paper bag having a thermoplastic coating on the inner surface of the inner-most ply said apparatus comprising, means for feeding flat, multi-ply paper bag blanks, having gusset folds extending along the longitudinal edges of said blanks, one

after the other along a path, means along said path for heating the bottom end of said blank for softening said thermoplastic coating, means for applying a sealing force to said softened thermoplastic coating along a line spaced from the end of said bag for sealing the thermoplastic coating on the inner surface of the inner-most ply of one bag wall to the thermoplastic coating of the other bag wall, means for applying a holding force to the seal formed along said line while said thermoplastic coating cools and hardens, means for embossing said bag blank along a fold line spaced from said bag blank end, means for folding said bag blank end along said fold line and for folding said folded portion onto the side wall of said bag blank and means for applying, cutting and adhesively securing a tape to the folded portion and said side wall at said bag blank end.

2. Apparatus, as recited in claim 1, in which said means for heating includes a first heater element at one side of said bag blank, a second heater element at the opposite side of said bag blank and means for moving said heater elements away from said bag.

3. Apparatus, as recited in claim 2, in which said heater elements each include a heat sink for heating and softening said thermoplastic coating along a line spaced from the bottom edge of said blank.

4. Apparatus, as recited in claim 3, in which said means for applying, cutting and adhesively securing a tape to said folded portion includes means for heating said tape.

5. Apparatus, as recited in claim 4, which said tape applying means includes a reciprocating knife which, when said tape is applied, cuts said tape to fit the width of said bag.

6. Apparatus, as recited in claim 5, in which said tape applying means includes a brake for holding said tape while said tape is being cut by said knife.

7. Apparatus, as recited in claim 6, in which said tape applying means includes means for deflecting the end of said bag while said tape is being cut.

Col. 1,

' Col. 2; line 74.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OE'CORRECTION 1 8cm No. 3 ,664,238' v Dated May 2 3, 1972 Inventor-(s) I al- It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent .arehereby corrected as shown below:

line 27 the Shau a its- Col. 1, line 55 "or" should be of Col. 1, line 69 after crease insert an d cs1... 2, line 16 "am should be ,in

"piles" should be plies Col-. 4, line 40 "and" should be are --t Col.- 6, line 16 after "In" insert the Col 8 line 28 after 4, insert in Si ghed andsealed this 6th day of Marc H1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Apparatus for heating, sealing, folding and taping a multiply paper bag having a thermoplastic coating on the inner surface of the inner-most ply said apparatus comprising, means for feeding flat, multi-ply paper bag blanks, having gusset folds extending along the longitudinal edges of said blanks, one after the other along a path, means along said path for heating the bottom end of said blank for softening said thermoplastic coating, means for applying a sealing force to said softened thermoplastic coating along a line spaced from the end of said bag for sealing the thermoplastic coating on the inner surface of the inner-most ply of one bag wall to the thermoplastic coating of the other bag wall, means for applying a holding force to the seal formed along said line while said thermoplastic coating cools and hardens, means for embossing said bag blank along a fold line spaced from said bag blank end, means for folding said bag blank end along said fold line and for folding said folded portion onto the side wall of said bag blank and means for applying, cutting and adhesively securing a tape to the folded portion and said side wall at said bag blank end.
 2. Apparatus, as recited in claim 1, in which said means for heating includes a first heater element at one side of said bag blank, a second heater element at the opposite side of said bag blank and means for moving said heater elements away from said bag.
 3. Apparatus, as recited in claim 2, in which said heater elements each include a heat sink for heating and softening said thermoplastic coating along a line spaced from the bottom edge of said blank.
 4. Apparatus, as recited in claim 3, in which said means for applying, cutting and adhesively securing a tape to said folded portion includes means for heating said tape.
 5. Apparatus, as recited in claim 4, which said tape applying means includes a reciprocating knife which, when said tape is applied, cuts said tape to fit the width of said bag.
 6. Apparatus, as recited in claim 5, in which said tape applying means includes a brake for holding said tape while said tape is being cut by said knife.
 7. Apparatus, as recited in claim 6, in which said tape applying means includes means for deflecting the end of said bag while said tape is being cut. 